Japan Copper Alloy Products’ Shipment Slows Down in November

Japanese copper alloy fabricators’ shipment was 72,521 tonnes in November, according to Japan Copper & Brass Association. The shipment increased by 5.1% from a year earlier and represented year-on-year rise for 13 straight months. However, the range of increase has narrowed. The shipment increased for refrigerators while decreased for connectors and semiconductors.

The shipment for domestic market increased by 5.4% to 59,358 tonnes in November from a year earlier. The shipment for refrigerators represented 36.6% year-on-year increase.

Sales of residential air conditioner kept strong after August due to hot summer in Japan. Air conditioner makers started inventory restock in and after September. Thus copper tube shipment increased. Air conditioner sales increased in November when consumers rushed to purchase air conditioners before halving Japanese incentive for eco friendly appliances.

The shipment for connectors decreased by 1.6% to 10,497 tonnes in November from a year earlier, which decreased for 2 months in a row. The shipment of copper strip and brass strip slowed down those which are applied to connector pins of consumer devices.

The shipment for semiconductors decreased by 10.2% to 3,576 tonnes in November from a year earlier, including copper alloy strip for leadframe. The volume showed year-on-year decline for 3 straight months. Market inventory increased for personal computers and other consumer devices along economic slowdown.

The shipment for export increased by 3.8% to 14,535 tonnes in November from a year earlier. The range of increase narrows due to slowdown of Chinese economic growth and underlying trend of strong yen.